Becoming Employee of the Month is a great achievement wherever you work. Living up to the criteria of such a title is in itself a great triumph. If you are seeking to become the undisputed best employee, here are the top 8 criteria you ought to be meeting!
1. Always Be on Time!
Nothing says unprofessional like an employee who is late to work, late to meetings and overdue on deadlines. Conversely, a GOOD employee arrives on time, if not early. They are seated and ready to begin meetings at their scheduled time. Their work is also orderly and on time.
2. Work Through the Tough Times
Colleagues and managers are bound to sense negative vibes in an office. Someone who begrudgingly completes their work because they have some underlying resentment isn’t pleasant to be around and not conducive to a good working environment. It takes a strong work-ethic and shows great professionalism and problem solving skills when you stay positive and work through the tough times.
This criterion could be the hardest to meet, but here are some ideas to help you exude positivity, even when faced with a task you absolutely hate:
- If you find the task boring, try combining it with something you do enjoy, e.g. listening to music. (I once kept a foot spa under my desk to use while writing dreaded reports!)
- If you are overloaded with work, try delegating certain tasks to other people.
- If you feel demotivated, look for ways to remotivate yourself, such as rewarding yourself once the work is complete.
- If you the task feels too difficult, it often helps to figure out exactly where/why you are finding it difficult. Write down everything that you do understand about the task, you might surprise yourself and, in the process, work out how to proceed.
NB: If you have been working hard and feel like you need a reset, check out this article: Best 5 Step After Work Reset Routine to Quickly Recuperate
3. Delight your Colleagues and Managers
The notion of delighting colleagues and managers really comes down to you exceeding their expectations of the role you have within the organisation. I wouldn’t suggest taking on extra responsibilities belonging to other colleagues, but rather elevate your own work quality. Here are some ideas:
- If you write reports, add more details, cite more sources, and provide more in-depth analyses. Also, make sure your writing quality is impeccable!
- If you attend meetings without a secretary, write detailed minutes yourself and share them with the attendees. However, make sure you’re not any breaching confidentiality rules.
4. Contribute Using your Expertise
The best kinds of contributions are those that are informed and relevant. If use your background knowledge to complement those of your colleagues, it will show that you are a great team player and collaborator. It doesn’t even need to be a certified expertise! For example, if you have visited another country or taught yourself another language, you might be able to provide insight on a new market. Don’t underestimate the value of your past experience and knowledge, and always seek to use them to contribute in a novel way.
5. Always be Ready to Work
Please don’t misunderstand this as meaning you should always make yourself available to do overtime. Rather, just carry a notepad or your laptop so that if inspiration suddenly strikes over lunchtime, have what you need to record your brilliant ideas. Doing so shows great initiative and an active interest in what you do at your place of work, which is surely going to look good to those around you!
Closing Remarks
So, there it is! If you can meet these 5 criteria, you are well on your way to winning the approval of your employer and that coveted Employee of The Month award! Most importantly, enjoy yourself and always give it your best effort.
